Women who are older than 50 should be consuming 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. Older women need plenty of calcium to prevent osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis leads to an increase risk of bone fractures typically in the wrist, hip, and spine. One in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.

There's no denying it, when it's cold, most of us want soup. Wrap your hands around a hot mug of soup and it will warm you inside and out.

And if you're feeling poorly there's some truth to that old adage that chicken soup is "Jewish penicillin." Scientists have discovered that there are health benefits, which include clearing of congested nasal passages by inhaling the steam from a hot bowl of soup. And even those who don't believe that, have agreed, that the love that comes along with the offer of homemade soup is also good for what ails you.

High blood pressure known as hypertension is very sneaky. It's called the silent killer, because it usually has no symptoms.

Doctors say you have high blood pressure if you have a reading of 140/90 or higher. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 or lower is considered normal. Prehypertension is blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number.

St. John's Wort also known as hypericum herb, klamath weed or goat weed is a plant with yellow flowers that are used to make teas and tablets. For centuries, the plant has been considered a remedy for mental problems, including depression and anxiety.

Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy and remove poisons. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that makes it stop working efficiently.

Hepatitis is usually caused by a virus. There are five main hepatitis viruses types A, B, C, D and E. There are several other causes of hepatitis.

Some people who have hepatitis have no symptoms. Others may have loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fever, muscle and joint pain, diarrhea, dark-colored urine, pale bowel movements, stomach pain, and jaundice.

For a number of years now, TIMES NEWS reporter Amy Miller has organized a Christmas cookie exchange at our offices in Mahoning Township. Employees are encouraged to bring three dozen cookies to share with their co-workers, and Amy always provides baggies for everyone to go home with a sampling of wonderful Christmas cookies.

The spread is always colorful, flavorful and generous, filling two long tables to capacity.

In addition to all of her other duties, Amy also compiles the recipes and emails a copy to all of the participants.

Looking for an elegant side dish for your Christmas feast? How about a simple, but filling, meat-free weeknight dinner?

Loaded Rice Pilaf may be just what you're looking for.

For years this was my go-to company dish, served alongside my Chicken Marsala or Chicken Normandy, and is adapted from a recipe by Chef James Beard. It makes a great side dish for roast beef or Salisbury steak.

Glaucoma is defined as a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve, which carries images from the eye to the brain. Here's how glaucoma works:

A clear fluid flows through a small space at the front of the eye called the "anterior chamber." If you have glaucoma, the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye and pressure builds up. This pressure may damage the optic nerve.